By CAROLINE WILSON

GLASGOW’S troubled health board has been placed at the second highest level of escalation following the death of two children linked to water contamination.

The Scottish Government said the move was due to “ongoing issues” related to infection prevention, management and control at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.

Stage 4 escalation is imposed when there is, ‘significant risks to delivery, quality, financial performance and support.’

The government said a dedicated Oversight Board will be put in place to oversea the hospital, headed up by Professor Fiona McQueen, Chief Nursing Officer and there will be dedicated support for infection prevention and control.

It comes after it emerged two children, a 10-year-old girl and a three-year-old, had died after contracting infections but their deaths were not made public.

In a statement Heath Secretary Jeane Freeman said: “In light of the on-going issues around the systems, processes and governance in relation to infection prevention, management and control at the QEUH and the RHC and the associated communication and public engagement issues, I have concluded that further action is necessary to support the Board to ensure appropriate governance is in place to increase public confidence in these matters.

“The intention of the escalation would ensure appropriate governance is in place to increase public confidence and strengthen current approaches that are in place to mitigate avoidable harms.”

The mother of the three-year-old boy who died said she is still seeking anwers, claiming her son was “extremely healthy” when he was admitted.

Victoria Freeman’s son Mason Djemat died suddenly in August 2017 at the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow, weeks before 10-year-old Milly Main.

The toddler, who suffered from a rare genetic condition, had been treated at one of the wards that were later closed following concerns over the water.

Kimberly Darroch has already said she is 100% certain the death of her daughter Milly, who was being treated for cancer, was linked to contaminated water.

Ms Freeman, said she is disappointed at the response from authorities, as she seeks answers over the death of the son she “absolutely adored”.

She told BBC Scotland: “Mason was the love of my life. Unfortunately I will never be able to replace him. Never.

“He was just really something. I absolutely adored him.

“There was no-one listening to me. No-one wanted to help. No-one at all.”

Ms Freeman said she first wrote to the health secretary last September and has been disappointed by the response.

She said: “I don’t think that Mason was acknowledged, particularly by her, and I feel that she did not take Mason’s death seriously.”

She also said she got no response from the health board NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC), until she went to the hospital and demanded to speak to somebody.

When asked how she felt she had been treated, she said:“I don’t think as a family we have been treated fairly.”

Ms Freeman said her son had Hunter syndrome but was “extremely healthy” and strong when he was admitted to the hospital in the summer of 2017, and she was shocked when he suddenly died.

She said: “To be standing in ICU and thinking over in my head ‘What’s happened?’ I just still don’t have the answers and they don’t have the answers as well.”

Two wards at the Royal Hospital for Children (RHC) in Glasgow were closed last September and patients moved to the adjoining Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH), which is part of the same campus, as Health Protection Scotland (HPS) investigated water contamination incidents.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman apologised to the families affected as she made a statement to MSPs on Wednesday.

Anas Sarwar, Labour MSP for Glasgow, said: “Jeane Freeman has taken the correct course of action.

“The Glasgow health board is not fit for purpose, and this is a necessary step following the unforgiveable failings of senior management.

“The focus now must be to tell parents, patients and the public the truth about infections at the hospital.

“I pay tribute to the brave whistleblowers who came forward to shine a light on the catastrophic failings in the hope that nothing like this can ever happen again.

“My thoughts are with Milly’s mum Kimberly and her family. She is one step closer to getting the truth.”

An NHSGGC spokesman said: “We are very sorry Ms Freeman feels she has unanswered questions regarding the death of her son, Mason Djemat.

“The case was fully investigated and the outcome shared with the family.”

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde joins NHS Tayside, Highland and Borders, which have all been escalated to stage four.

Scottish Conservative shadow health secretary Miles Briggs said it was indicative of an “NHS in crisis.”